It's funny. When I first started looking for a bus I wanted a gasser with a 4 or 5 speed. I figured I could fix a gasser myself since that's what I have experience with and the 4 or 5 speed would be just about bulletproof. Now I own a diesel with an AT545

I guess it just comes down to personal preference, but as I read I quickly learned that a diesel was probably the best bet in terms of mileage and such. I won't use the bus often, but when I do it will be for long distances. I also like the resale (not that I ever would sell it) value of a diesel. There is no doubt in my mind that I will get what I paid for it should I ever decide to sell.

As for the auto....well.....a 4 or 5 speed is hard to find. On top of that, I drove a buddy's bus (he bought his the same week as mine coincidently...we had not talked about it previously) up Minnesota's infamous Highway 38 from Grand Rapids to Marcell. It is a narrow, windy, hilly road frequented by logging trucks mostly. In 14 miles it goes around 10 lakes (we are the Land of 10,000 Lakes after all). I got so annoyed with shifting that crashbox and 2 speed rear after that one trip that I decided that I would have an auto. I've never looked back.

For as much hate as people seem to have for the AT545, it's not a bad tranny IMHO. It was used for well over a decade and for millions and millions of skoolie miles as well as in other medium duty trucks. Sure it has its flaws, but they are reliable and hold up. When they give up the ghost they can be replaced cheaper than the 4L60E in a half ton Chevy truck. On top of that, anyone can drive a rig with one. Anyway...enough ranting....

Mine runs on propane. Awesome way to go in my opinion compared to diesel (buck a litre) and gas (little more than a buck a litre). My bus is roughly 7m long with a 350hp Chevy Manual.....the same they push the bigger buses. so it uses a lot of gas, but accellerates pretty quickly for a bus. Anyways! back to propane.
I bought it when prices were about 45 50 cents Canadian a liter, but they rocketed to 65.9 right after i bought it. so im paying through the nose in my opinion. On the bright side, i have mileage comparable or maybe a little more than an Ford F-350 pickup, diesel or gas. So im about twice the size, and can compete.
Propane itself burns cleaner, and leaves less soot and carbon material, extending engine life, has a higher octane value, its cleaner burning (no sulfur, low C02) and burns so hot, it heats the bus really fast (it'd call that our own 'Canadian Dream').
One thing i do need is better fuel efficiency....anyone got any suggestions on conversion, like adding gas or diesel to the mix?

wvo filtered through 10 micron into bus wiith electric pump then 5 micron heated filter prior to engine. Super smooth at the high end, a little chuggy at the idle but relatively the same power. A small drop in mileage but at 8miles per gallon and 150 gallons of wvo who's counting right. 3000 wvo miles this summer lots of mountain passes and i still have the same diesel i left with in the tank(have since topped off). word

How do you keep the beer and sediment from mixing while you are going down the road? I am bidding on a bus tomorrow that I am planning to convert to a microbrewery. What are the legalities of that, can one serve homebrew from a bus and charge money for it?